Optical systems

Optical system development

Together with our customers, we develop customized optical systems, components, and assemblies for various applications. We always attach great importance to the consideration of an entire system and we consider equally the technical and economic feasibility of the proposed solutions. We integrate different core disciplines such as:

• Optics and photonics
• Mechanical and opto-mechanical design
• Opto-electronics, analog and digital electronics
• Embedded software

Optical measurement technology

We have expert knowledge in the conception and dimensioning of sophisticated optical functions for measurement and sensor technologies in the UV to IR wavelength range (coherent, incoherent). Our work includes:

• Distance measurement, e.g., by means of triangulation, time of flight, or stereovision
• Laser spectroscopy, fluorescence photometry, gas sensing, scattered light sensors
• Interferometry, e.g., spectral or time-resolved optical coherence tomography (OCT)
• Eye diagnostics, eye tracking
• Camera-based systems, e.g., computer vision, stereo endoscopy, and hyperspectral imaging
• Low-cost optical sensors, e.g., presence detection, flow sensors, rain and light sensors

Optical design

Regarding the modeling, dimensioning, simulation, and optimization of imaging and non-imaging optical systems, we focus in particular on the following:

• Light guides and illumination optics
• Beam shaping and laser optics
• Application-specific camera lenses
• Glass and plastic optics, micro-optics
• Freeform optics
• Diffractive optical elements
• Ophthalmic optics and corrective optics, e.g., lenses for glasses, contact lenses and intra-ocular lenses

Signal & image processing

For your devices and systems, we develop customized algorithms for signal and image processing. The algorithms are optimized for the embedded systems on your devices. We can support you with traditional processing as well as with artificial intelligence and machine learning methods:

• Recognition and classification of objects
• Object tracking (in six degrees of freedom)
• Barcode reading
• 2D and 3D measurement technology: algorithms for stereo cameras and for 2D measurement technology

Design & laboratory infrastructure

We use modern design tools, such as ZEMAX/OpticStudio, LightTools, and Code V, for modeling and simulating optical systems. These are complemented by different proprietary development tools and tool chains. Our high-quality laboratory infrastructure enables us to implement and comprehensively characterize and test the performance attributes of demonstrators, functional models, and prototypes in experiments.